Indians sign Russell Branyan to minor deal

CLEVELAND (AP) The Indians have reunited with slugger Russell Branyan, signing him to a minor league deal for the remainder of the season.

The 38-year-old Branyan has spent part of six seasons (1998-2002, 2010) with Cleveland. He’s played for Tijuana in the Mexican League this season, hitting 19 homers with 59 RBIs.

The Indians have assigned Branyan to Triple-A Columbus for the remainder of 2014.

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A seventh-round pick by Cleveland in 1994, the free-swinging Branyan has hit 194 career home runs – 55 with Cleveland – in the majors. He was once regarded as one of the top prospects in the Indians’ organization.

Branyan, who hit 20 homers for the Indians in 2001, has been with 10 different teams. He hit a career-high 31 homers with Seattle in 2009.